Democrat file photo
Apple Harvest Day takes over downtown and brings local crops, crafts, and family fun to Dover this Saturday.

DOVER — It’ll be all about the apples this Saturday.The 28th Annual Apple Harvest Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will — if tradition holds — fill Central Avenue and Henry Law Park with more than 25,000 people.Nearly 300 vendors, six stages of entertainment, creative art displays and delicious food and amusements for the entire family will line the streets.Apple Harvest Day is organized by the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce and underwritten by Federal Savings Bank.The crisp red fruit of autumn will be at the heart of the festival this year. The WOKQ Apple Pie Judging Contest at the XFINITY Stage will return for its 27th year. Bakers are encouraged to submit their special recipes to the judges, lead by WOKQ Morning Waking Crew’s Mark Ericson. Orchard Alley will also host King Tut’s Cider Mill from Eliot, Maine, with an old fashioned cider press on display.New to Orchard Alley this year is the Bernson Legal, PLLC Stage, hosted by The Dover Brickhouse. The venue will feature musical performances throughout the day, including The Mallett Brothers, Whiskey Kill Duo and James McGarvey.“This will only be the second year of having Orchard Alley at Apple Harvest Day,” commented Tiffany Melanson, Apple Harvest Day Committee member from Federal Savings Bank. “Having a working cider mill at the festival will be a huge draw for families and having an entertainment stage at the venue will be a great addition.”The stage on Orchard Alley is not the only new addition at Apple Harvest Day this year. During the festival, the McConnell Center, at 61 Locust St., will be transformed into the McConnell Center Arts Pavilion, featuring live music, local artists and food vendors. Also new in 2012 is the Todd’s Touch Auto Alley which will fill First Street with classic and super-modified cars, as well as a monster truck.“We are very excited about the three new venue additions this year,” commented Christine Goodwin of W.B. Mason, chair of the Apple Harvest Day Committee. “The stage on Orchard Street adds yet another fantastic music venue to the event and the McConnell Center Arts Pavilion is a great opportunity to showcase all of the wonderfully talented artists and crafters that call Dover home. I think the Todd’s Touch Auto Alley will be a big hit with the kids.”For the fourth straight year, the 5K road race will kick off Apple Harvest Day. PainCare and Salmon Falls Family Healthcare were recently named underwriting sponsors of the race, along with Bernson Legal, PLLC and Kennebunk Savings. They have been underwriting sponsors every year. The race, managed by Sub5 Race Management, will kick off at 8:30 a.m. and will start and finish on River Street. The USTAF certified course will wind through historic downtown Dover and is suitable for beginner runners and walkers, as well as advanced racers. “Our practice is based on enhancing the quality of life for our patients, so supporting the Apple Harvest Day 5K is a natural fit for PainCare and Salmon Falls Family Healthcare,” commented Michael J. O’Connell, CEO.More than 700 runners are anticipated to take part in the event. “The Apple Harvest Day 5K is gaining notoriety around the Seacoast as a premier road race,” commented Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Community Events Manager, Michael Mengers. “A major reason why is because of the support we receive from PainCare and Salmon Falls Family Healthcare year after year.”Registration for the 5K Road Race is now open and can be done by visiting the Apple Harvest Day page at www.dovernh.org. The first 250 who registered receive free T-shirts. Pre-registration is $18 and registration at the race is $20.After the race, families will find plenty to do at the Service Credit Union KidZone in Lower Henry Law Park. The venue will offer 16 inflatable amusement rides in addition to the Profile Bank Roaming Train and Dover Auto World Traveling Barnyard.“The great thing about Apple Harvest Day is that there really is a little something for everyone,” said Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Community Events Manager Michael Mengers. “Whether you are running in the road race, shopping with the vendors, or just bouncing from stage to stage listening to music, there is always plenty to do at Apple Harvest Day.”In addition to the Bernson Legal, PLLC Stage on Orchard Alley, music lovers can also enjoy live performances at the Ralph’s House of Tone North End Stage hosted by 98.7FM The Bay in the Ross Furniture Parking Lot on Third Street, the Urban Tree Service Songwriter Stage hosted by The Shark 105.3FM in Waldron Court and the Cocheco Arts & Technology Academy Stage in the Cocheco Courtyard. The Strand Theatre will also be open for the day with The Zone Church showing two movies, King Kong and Up.Henry Law Park will be the location of Apple Harvest Day’s largest food court, complete with traditional carnival foods, as well as seasonal favorites such as candy apples and apple crisp. An additional food court is located in the Ross Furniture Parking Lot on Third Street. Early risers can attend the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast on Orchard Street from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.Festival attendees can park at the Dover Library on Locust Street and the Dover Transportation Center on Chestnut Street. Both lots will be serviced by the Apple Harvest Day Shuttle provided by Maple Suites, which will drop passengers off in the heart of the festival at Henry Law Park and at the Janetos Parking Lot on Main Street.Upon arriving at Apple Harvest Day, festival-goers are encouraged to visit the Chamber of Commerce Information Center at the corner of Central Avenue and Orchard Street or the Measured Progress Volunteer Headquarters inside H&R Block at 447 Central Ave. to receive a Foster’s Daily Democrat festival guide complete with map and entertainment schedules. For up-to-date information on Apple Harvest Day visit www.dovernh.org, www.facebook.com/doverappleharvest or call the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce at (603) 742-2218.